PARAPH

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 27 January 2012

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PARAPH   (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) a flourish added above, below, through, or at the end of a signature
2. (n.) a symbol or character used to mark the start of a section or paragraph

Useful information for game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: paraphYSES, paraphYSIS, paraphRASE (v.), paraphRASER/S, paraphRASTIC, paraphRASABLE, paraphERNALIA
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Epilogue:
The familiar word PARAGRAPH began appearing in English c. 1500, but the same concept was described by the word PARAPH as early as 1395.  Both words derive from the Latin paragraphus (“paragraph”).  Over time, PARAPH came to mean a symbol or character used to mark the start of a section or paragraph, such as ¶ (a symbol also known as a pilcrow).  Now the word PARAPH is generally used to refer only to a flourish or mark accompanying a signature, such as the lines seen under John Hancock’s famous signature on the Declaration of Independence.  Benjamin Franklin’s signature often featured an elaborate PARAPH, too, as did those of several other contemporaries.  The practice may have originally started as a means of preventing forgery of one’s signature — plus, it looked cool.

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